By Patience Gondo
Residents of a section of Dulibadzimu’s Tshitaudze suburb in Beitbridge are concerned about a broken sever pipe now spewing raw waste on the road in their area.
The pipe, lying on the surface rather than being concealed underground, cuts across a section of the road used by both pedestrians and vehicles and appears to have been driven over by cars several times.
This has resulted in raw sewer spilling over into the surrounding area and posing a potential health hazard.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network one of the residents said the shallow placement of the infrastructure has resulted in it being put under pressure and getting succumbing.
Waste and raw sewage now flow between houses and forms puddles along the roadside.
Concerned residents told Ziyah News Network that the situation has created unsanitary conditions and heightened fears of disease outbreaks, particularly among children who frequently play in the area.
When approached for comment, the town engineer Douglas Sphuma acknowledged the issue but declined to provide detailed explanations, referring questions to Water and Sanitation Engineer Timothy Kadyamusuma.
He said matters related to sewer infrastructure fall under Kadyamusuma’s portfolio.
When contacted Kadyamusuma redirected inquiries to the town engineer, stating that as the senior official, he was better placed to address the media.
Despite the back and forth, Kadyamusuma said the Municipality of Beitbridge had already resolved the problem.
The incident adds to a growing list of persistent sewer challenges in the border town.
Residents have over the years, repeatedly complained about sewage spillages and failing sanitation infrastructure in several areas including Wamlala, HaMbedzi, the Beitbridge District Hospital and the town’s main bus rank.
In some of these locations, raw sewage has been flowing openly for extended periods, raising serious public health concerns and drawing criticism over the municipality’s response time and maintenance systems.
At Beitbridge District Hospital, previous sewage leaks have been particularly worrying due to the risk posed to patients and healthcare workers.
Urban planning and infrastructure experts have often pointed to ageing sewer systems, population growth and inadequate maintenance budgets as key contributors to the recurring problems.
The shallow placement of pipes, as seen in Tshitaudze, has also been cited as a sign of poor installation practices or temporary fixes that become long-term hazards.
Despite assurances from municipal officials that the situation in Tshitaudze has been addressed, residents say visible signs of sewage seepage and the exposed pipe remain.
They are now calling for lasting solutions, urging authorities to upgrade the town’s sanitation infrastructure and ensure proper installation standards to prevent further outbreaks and protect community health.